in:Legends articles,Corellian Engineering Corporation products,Light cruiser classes,

and2 more

Consular-class light cruiser

<Consular-class light cruiser

Edit

Click here for Wookieepedia's article on the Canon version of this subject.

This article covers the Legends version of this subject.

ThisStar Wars Legends article contains information that is affected by theStar Wars: The Clone Wars project.

A definitive Legends Clone Wars timeline was never established by Lucasfilm. The exact chronology of the events described in this article is unknown.

Consular-class light cruiser

Production information

Manufacturer

Corellian Engineering Corporation^[1]^[2]

Model

Consular-class space cruiser^[1]^[2]

Type

Space cruiser^[1]^[2]

Technical specifications

Length

115meters^[3]^[2]

Maximum acceleration

2,040 G

Maximum atmospheric speed

900km/h

Engine unit(s)

Dyne 577 radial atomizer engines (3)^[3]^[2]

Hyperdrive rating

Class 2.0

Hyperdrive system

Longe Voltrans tri-arcCD-3.2 hyperdrive^[3]

Shielding

Equipped

Armament

None standard,^[2] can be refitted with various configurations
Clone Wars configuration: At least 4turbolasers; 2concussion missile launchers^[4]

Complement

Varies, based on modular configuration

Escape craft

Detachablesalon pod^[1]
2escape pods^[3]

Crew

Total crew (9)^[3]

Captain (1)^[3]
Pilot (1)^[3]
Co-pilots (2)^[3]
Navigator (1)^[3]
Communication officer (1)^[3]
Technicians (3)^[3]

Passengers

16(varies, depends on modular configuration)^[3]

Cargo capacity

1,000metric tons^[4]

Usage

Role(s)

Diplomatic ship^[5]
Lightcruiser(refit)^[4]
Frigate(alternate refit)^[6]
Smuggler vessel(Rebel use)^[4]

Year introduced

By990 BBY^[7]

Affiliation

TheConsular-class light cruiser orConsular-class cruiser, commonly referred to asRepublic cruiser, was aCorellian Engineering Corporation starship used by theGalactic Republic totransport Jedi anddiplomats to troubled spots acrossthe galaxy.

Characteristics[]

RadiantVII ep1ig — *Consular*-class cruiser schematics.

TheConsular-class space cruiser was astarship designed and manufactured by theCorellian Engineering Corporation and used by theGalactic Republic totransport Jedi and diplomats to troubled spots acrossthe galaxy.^[1]^[5] Civilian models of theConsular-classcruiser were used for straight-forward transportation and were indistinct. Craft of theConsular-class in diplomatic service were painted red to declare their diplomatic immunity and to also serve as a warning not to attack. Red was the color ofambassadorial relations and neutrality forcapital ships of the Republic and had been so for many centuries. During the Clone Wars, these cruisers were painted the same colors as Republic attack cruisers. Any ship hailing fromCoruscant would be painted entirely red; others would only have stripes.^[1]

The Republic cruiser was equipped with asalon pod that served as a secure meeting area for Republic representatives and leaders of groups in conflict. There was also a variety of salon pods that catered to differentalien species.^[1]In emergency situations, the entire salon pod could eject from the mother craft, and with its ownsensors,life support equipment, and engines, protect the diplomatic crew on board. The craft also carried a number ofescape pods.^[1]

The cruiser's total capacity was 9 crew and 16 passengers. For increased security on diplomatic missions, the organic crew was kept to a minimum, with many ship functions attended to bydroids.^[1]

Although the diplomatic versions were unarmed, various cruisers were modified to have doubleturbolaser cannons and twoconcussion missile launchers installed and to serve in theJudicial Forces and regional security forces, at least some of which were then re-designated as eitherRepublic light assault cruisers^[4] orRepublic frigates.^[6] Others were modified to serve as troopcarriers andcommand ships.^[4]

History[]

Consular cruisers entered service late in the time period of the Republic. An early version of the ship was built after theRuusan Reformation and was put into service by990 BBY.^[7] They were created due to budget cuts that required the building of new utilitarian and unostentatious starships; it was that quality of them that attracted the Jedi to their use.^[7] LaterConsulars would continue to serve the Jedi and the Republic manycenturies later.^[5]

During the prelude to theInvasion of Naboo in32 BBY,^[11] it was aConsular-class cruiser,Radiant VII, that transportedQui-Gon Jinn andObi-Wan Kenobi to theTrade Federation battleship Saak'ak orbitingNaboo. During this mission, the ship had a crew of onepilot and acaptain, though both died when the Trade Federation destroyed the vessel.^[5]

MilitarizedConsular-classes known asRepublic light assault cruisers served theRepublic Navy in theStark Hyperspace War and theYinchorri Uprising. Those vessels had cannons and extra armor added to their design.^[4]

Republic Frigate — A Republic cruiser adapted into a Republic frigate during the Clone Wars.

During theClone Wars, someConsular-class ships went through theCharger c70 retrofit, having weapon batteries added and serving as smallfrigates in the Republic wartime Navy.^[12] They possessed a combination of firepower and speed that made them valuable components of the Navy.^[6]

Civilians such asNoggox theHutt also usedConsulars. One of hisfreighters was captured by thepirate Dool Pundar.^[9]

The militarizedConsular-class frigates had a paint job similar to theVenator-class Star Destroyers.^[12]The tradition of painting strictly diplomatic vessels red continued even into the days of theGalactic Empire.Princess Leia Organa's vessel, theTantive IV, was striped in red to indicate diplomatic immunity.^[1]

A handful of armed cruisers were still in operation throughout the galaxy during theGalactic Civil War. The smugglerRif Taranu aided theRebel Alliance by using his modified cruiserDead Reckoning to transport goods for them.^[8] Several were seen at theJubilee Wheel early in theYuuzhan Vong War, and participated in theBattle of Yag'Dhul.^[13]

Behind the scenes[]

The early designs of theConsular-class cruiser had a smooth, "Coruscant-look" to it. After several iterations,George Lucas andDoug Chiang decided that the cruiser should have a strong visual link to theoriginal trilogy. With that direction, Chiang and the Art Department devised a ship with a more rectilinear profile that echoed the design ofStar Wars: Episode IVA New Hopes blockade runner. One of the last additions to the cruiser was the small antenna array that rests above the cockpit. Lucas felt that the ship needed "a little extra something" to guide the audience's eyes to that section of the ship.

InEmpire 22 the Consular cruiser was mistakenly drawn like aPersonal Luxury Yacht 3000.

In a2007 campaign forWizards of the Coast's version of theStar Wars Roleplaying GameDawn of Defiance, the pirate shipBlood Brother^[14] from the1986 storyThe Scarlet Pirate, the third issue of theStar Wars: Droids series of comics,^[15] was identified as aConsular-class cruiser.^[14] However, the vessel's appearance differed significantly^[15] from aConsular-class cruiser seen inStar Wars: Episode IThe Phantom Menace.^[5] To resolve that discrepancy,^[16] the class to which theBlood Brother belonged was later renamedConsular III byAbel G. Peña andRich Handley in the first part of "The Droids Re-Animated," a pair of reference articles at theStarWars.com blog.^[17]